MADISON – The Wisconsin coaches loves what they have in the tandem of Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano, but the sophomore linebackers aren’t super human.
They’re going to need help.
“If you’re 19 years old playing inside linebacker in the Big Ten Conference, if you play 75 plays a game, you’re going to get beat down a little bit, right?,” Badgers defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said.
“You’re going to be able to evaluate my trust in the third and fourth inside linebacker (and) Coach (Tuf) Borland’s trust in the third and fourth middle linebacker based on how much those guys are on the field in legit, real situations.”
It’s fall camp for the Badgers, the time of the year when position coaches talk about how many players they would ideally like to rotate at various positions.
Sometimes the projections, however, don’t match what happens. Rotations are often tighter than expected and the team’s top players don’t get the rest the coaches hoped for.
But at inside linebacker, the Badgers may have an answer to their need for added depth at the position in Thomas Heiberger. The redshirt sophomore has been working at both inside spots during camp and as it stands after spring ball and the first few days, is putting himself in position to get on the field.
“He’s a guy that’s continuing to earn trust and provided versatility to the room, playing multiple spots and doing a really good job at it,” Borland said. “We’re excited about Tommy.”
Thomas Heiberger has overcome two knee injuries
The excitement surrounding Heiberger has been a long-time coming. He has been slowed by two knee injuries.
During camp two years ago, Heiberger suffered a knee cap injury that held him out until the late in the season. When he returned, he played on punt returns. The following spring, he injured the knee again. This time he opted for surgery, and though he spent all of last season on the punt coverage and return units, he wasn’t ready to help the defense until the final month.
His trajectory has steadily climbed since then.
“It’s probably as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” Heiberger said Aug. 9. “Putting together four straight (practices) so far has been good for me and I’m excited to see where the next few weeks and months go for me.”
Heiberger started his career as an outside linebacker but moved to the inside during the spring of 2025 shortly before his second knee injury.
Heiberger is someone who could not only gain the trust necessary to play in games but also push Posa and Catalano. He plays with speed and a motor. They call him Turbo for a reason.
“He makes me work harder every single day …,” Posa said of Heiberger. “I feel like Tommy makes me and Coop ten times better. He’s a really big guy in our linebacker unit.”
Heiberger made three starts, seven tackles in ’25
Heiberger played in 15 games during his first two seasons. Last season he played defense in 11 of 12 contests but made his greatest impact during the final four games when he averaged 19.3 snaps per game. He finished the season with seven tackles.
During fall camp he has focused on the inside positions after also working during the spring at the hybrid linebacker position manned by redshirt sophomore Jon Jon Kamara.
His ascent has been helped by simply being available. He hasn’t missed a significant amount of practice time, in part due to his evolving off-the-field regiment.
“Just to be able to build day-to-day in the summer and have a routine and take care of my body every day, I think that’s what’s really helped me kind of feel as good as I am now that I’m in the fall,” he said.
After Catalano and Posa moved into the starting lineup for the final five games, both had heavy snap loads. Catalano was on the field for 93.1% of the defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, while Posa was on the field 92.7% of the time.
That’s a lot of work at one of the game’s most physical positions. Heiberger could be a guy who takes some of that load off their shoulders.
“I’ve really been feeling comfortable now, being in the room for almost a year and a half now,” he said. “I’m pushing there. I’ve had a lot of practice under my belt and I’m excited for that role.
“Just to be able to bounce around wherever they need me and it doesn’t stress me out whether I’m going at Mike or Will or wherever they need me.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin needs depth at LB. Thomas Heiberger could be the answer.
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
